Proton therapy offers the possibility of both greater precision and less toxicity than conventional radiation. Unlike conventional radiation therapies, there is no damaging exit dose with proton therapy, and the highest amount of cancer-killing energy is deposited in the tumor.

The Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center in Washington, D.C., is one of the largest and most advanced centers in the U.S. With three treatment rooms and more than 30 specialists, our center combines the unsurpassed expertise of our team, innovative technology and advancements in research to provide tailored cancer treatments for children and adults.

We combine pencil beam therapy technology, CT-guided treatment and biomatrix MRI, which allows us to further limit the dose of radiation that the patient receives and confine that dose to the tumor.

WHAT SETS US APART

Unparalleled expertise: Since opening as one of the first comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its experts have led cancer research, deciphering the causes of cancer and advancing care for the most complex cancer cases. This level of expertise continues with our proton therapy center, directed by the leading radiation oncology and medical physics experts in the world.

Largest and most advanced center: Our 80,000-square-foot facility is one of the largest and most advanced facilities in the world, with three treatment gantries and one dedicated research gantry.

Imaging couch and respiratory gating: Our center offers CT imaging integrated with treatment to ensure the most accurate and precise treatment planning and proton therapy delivery.
Respiratory gating technology tracks the proton beam to movement of the tumor. Our experts helped invent and develop these technologies.

Pencil beam and other advanced technologies: Our center is one of just a few incorporating the latest 360-degree pencil beam delivery, painting tumors with cancer cell-killing radiation while sparing surrounding normal tissue.

Research center: Ours is the only academic proton therapy center in the region and one of just a few in the world where much-needed research studies will be performed to decipher basic biological mechanisms and help set the standard of care for proton therapy now and for the future.

Precision medicine: Our experts take a unique multidisciplinary and precision medicine approach bringing together specialists and experts to work with patients to develop individualized, detailed treatment plans specifically suited to each patient.

Local, national and international: The location of our proton therapy center  at Sibley Memorial Hospital allows us to continue to bring the most advanced cancer care to patients living in the region, while also providing convenient access for patients across the U.S. and around the world.

DEDICATED PEDIATRIC TREATMENT TEAM

The Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center is one of the few in the world — and the only one in the Washington, D.C., region — with a dedicated pediatric team that specializes in caring for young oncology patients. It delivers care in collaboration with Children’s National Hospital and the Johns Hopkins pediatric oncology department. Our dedicated pediatric treatment team includes radiation oncologists and technicians; pediatric anesthesiologists (when needed); pediatric nurses, including a nurse practitioner and nurse navigator; a Child Life specialist; a nutritionist; and survivorship and family counselors.